Voorheesville remembers HS student

In the weeks after the tragic suicide of a Clayton A. Bouton High School student, the Voorheesville community is looking to cope, understand, heal, and move forward.

The family of Jerry Clark will be hosting a memorial service in his memory on Monday, May 10. I would like to hear stories about my son from his friends and, time permitting, will open the floor to them, said Wendy Clark, mother of Jerry Clark.

Clark said that the outpouring for her family has been tremendous. "The day my son passed away, one of his fellow students started a Facebook memorial. Within the first four hours it had 1,000 members." The group, "April 27th, 2010 R.I.P. Jerry Clark," currently has over 2,300 members.

She said the online memorial open her eyes to acts of kindness her son bestowed on his peers. "I didn't even know the little things he did," said Clark.

Clark specifically mentioned an instance in which Jerry bought flowers for a friend facing hard times, and another in which Jerry went out of his way to help a 6th grade student in his first day on the school bus.

"Jerry went over and sat next to him to make him more comfortable," said Clark. "He was a caring, loving person; loved by everyone he methe was there for you if you needed him."

Clark said that memorial will be opened to all from the community. It will begin with a short prayer at 6 p.m., followed by speakers. "We also will have pads of paper and pens so they can write their stories instead if they feel more comfortable that way," she said.

Clark said the park has asked that people be aware that is no smoking or alcohol permitted in the park and that no flames or candles will be allowed, with the exception of the candle she will be lighting for her son at the beginning of the service.